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Fourth Female Staffer Files Sexual Harassment Claim Against NY Assemblyman
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Dec 26, 2013
Modified Dec 26, 2013
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By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Dec 26, 2013
Modified Dec 26, 2013
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More sexual harassment allegations are mounting against Assemblyman Dennis Gabryszak. After three women came forward last week to accuse Gabryszak of sending them videos of the politician receiving oral sex and telling one he got a "boner" when he saw her (among other gross things), a fourth staffer has come forward to claim the Democrat repeatedly sexually harassed her, creating a "hostile and offensive work environment."
24-year-old Caitrin Kennedy, who still works for Gabryszak as his director of community relations, has accused the 62-year-old Gabryszak of repeatedly making salacious comments to her. At first, according to a notice of claim Kennedy filed this week, Gabryszak allegedly made comments about prostitutes and strip clubs, and suggested the two get a "couple's massage."
Then, according to the claim, Gabryszak became "more aggressive and frequent in his bizarre and sexually suggestive behavior." Kennedy says, for instance, that at an office dinner, the Assemblyman suggested she take photos with him while sitting on his lap, and asked her to "touch butts" with another female employee. She also alleges he engaged in discussion about her looks with other male legislators, and told her she should "become pregnant" when she told him she didn't have a boyfriend.
Diana Cihak, a spokesperson for Kennedy, says Kennedy decided to file the notice of claim after hearing about the other former staffers' claim, though she had already been thinking of pursuing legal action. "Then, all of a sudden, she found out that these women had filed a suit, and so she, at that time, she said ‘I need to support these other women. This is happening to me, as well.’ ” Cihak said.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver says the Assembly’s ethics committee is investigating the claims against the Buffalo-area legislator; both Silver and Governor Andrew Cuomo have called on Gabryszak to resign if the allegations prove to be true.
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dennis gabryszak
sexual harassment
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